hughes



Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

W. O. HUGHES. PLUSHING DEVICE FOR WATER GLOSETS, &o.

(No Model.)

ms News Pun: co, mum-who msmwr UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

\VILLARD O. HUGHES. OF UTIOA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOSEPH\VIOKS AND GEORGE l-l. HUGHES, OF SAME PLACE.

FLUSHING DEVICE FOR WATER-CLOSETS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,020, dated August12, 1890.

Application filed January 28, 1889. Serial No. 297,867- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD C. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city of Utica, in the county of Oneidaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Flushing Devices for ater-Closets, &c.; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the in-Vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in flushing devices forwater-closets.

It is the object of my invention to provide a flushing device that issimple in construction, prompt in its action, and one that will overcomethe disagreeable gurgling, choking, sucking noise that is usual in suchdevices as ordinarily constructed and used.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification,Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my device mounted upon the bottom ofthe tank or cistern, a section of which bottom is shown. The dottedlines indicate various positions of movable parts.

Fig. 2 shows a substantially vertical central longitudinal section ofthe device, as shown in Fig. 1, some parts being omitted. Fig. 3 shows asection of the device, taken on line A B of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows asection of the device, takcn on line C D of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar or like parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 shows a section of the bottom of the tankor cistern, within which the device is placed and which contains thewater used by the device.

2 is the flushing or discharge pipe. The upper end of pipe 2 passes intothe double elbow or turn 4, where it is secured, as I prefer to secureit, by the clamping action of screw 3, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the elbowbeing slit alittle and provided with ears for the screw 3. The doubleelbow 4 is connected with cylinder'5 at or near the top thereof, and soas to receive a flow of water from the cylinder 5 and carry it over inpipe 2. Cylinder 5 is provided with one head 6, and the lower end open.

7 is a piston fitting and working in cylin 5 5 der 5.

8 is a piston-rod for actuating the piston, passing air tight throughcover 6, and is provided'with a shoulder 9 for limiting the downwardmovement of the piston. It is also pref- 6c erable to provide an elasticcushion 10 between the shoulder 9 and the head 6, and which may also actas a packing. Piston 7 may or may not be provided with small openings11, which may or may not be provided with upwardly-opening valves.

To the upper end of piston-rod 8 may be connected a lever 12 foroperating the same.

A flap-valve 11, intended to close the lower end of the cylinder 5, isprovided, pivoted at 15. To thefiap-valve 14 is secured arm 16, whicharm carries float 17.

A cushioning chamber 18 is provided, having a plunger 19 workingtherein, which plunger has connectingrod 20 attached thereto.Connecting-rod 20 is provided near its lower end with a slot 21 and isengaged, within the slot by a projection 21 upon flapvalve 14. Plunger19 is provided with an opening through the same closed by anupwardly-opening valve 22. Cushioning-chamber 18 is provided with anopening 23 at or near its upper end, which opening is con trolled byscrew 24. A hook 25, mounted upon a spring, which always holds it inplacewhen not forcibly displaced, projects a little over the lower endof the cushioning-chamber l8 and limits the downward movement of theplunger 19. The piston 7, when in its lowest position, stands directlyopposite recess 26, 0 Figs. 2 and 4,'which is practically an enlargementof the cylinder at this point. The piston is held in its central andstable position when opposite the recess 26 by guides 27 27 p 27 27,Fig. 4, and in such position that it will 5 readily ascend in thecylinder. The object of the recess 26 is to provide an opening for thepassage of water into or out of the cylinder 5 without disturbing thepiston when in its lowest position.

An air or vent pipe 28 is provided extending from the exterior down theinterior of pipe 2 a certain distance, and assists in breaking thesiphon action. Pipe 28 is not essential, but desirable, also, the samewith chamber 18 and working parts.

It is not desirable that the level of water in the tank should be abovepoint 29; but should the tank be filled above that point the surpluswater will pass over the point 29 into pipe 2, and it will then act asan overflow. The cylinder 5, the turn 4, and pipe 2, when in action,form a siphon.

Theoperation of the device is substantially as follows: The tank beingfull nearly up to point 29, which also fills the cylinder 5 withi water,and it being desired to flush the basin, the piston 7 is drawn up bymeans of lever 12 and connecting parts. This movement throws the watercontained within the cylinder over the turn or double elbow 4 and downpipe 2, and starts a siphon action of the parts. This siphon actioncontinues, the momentum of the water holding the piston 7 up to head 6,or nearly so,until the water in the tank is reduced to the levelindicated by line 0, Fig. -1., and the float 17 has descend-ed to upperposition indicated by dotted lines. By this movement the flap-valve 14is brought near enough to the open end of the cylinder to be caught bythe suction of the current of water, and would be brought up to andclose the end of the cylinder instantly but for the resisting action ofthe cushioning-chamber 1S and workingand connecting parts. As the float17 descends with the lowering water in the tank, the flap-valve 141sbrought nearer to the open end of cylinder 5 without resistance, whilethe projection 21 is moving along and toward the upper end of slot 20 inconnecting-rod 20. When the projection has reached the upper end of theslot 20, it then meets the resisting force of the cushioning-chainber.The resistance is caused by the necessity of expelling the water fromchamber 18 before flap-valve 14 can entirely close the open end ofcylinder 5, and the speed with which this is done depends on the size ofopening 23, which is controlled by screw 24. When flap-valve 14 hasclosed the end of cylinder 5, the flow of water is stopped, air entersthrough the vent-pipe 28 or lower end of pipe 2, breaking the siphonaction, and the piston '7 descends by its own gravity to its lowestposition. The flap-valve 14 is returned to the position shown in fulllines, equilibrium is established in chamber 18 as the plunger 'descendsby water passing in through valve 22 or opening 23, or both, and whenthe tank is filled the device is ready for a repetition of the processesdescribed.

Various modifications and alterations may be made in and from theconstructions described and various parts omitted without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a flushing device, of the tank, a flushing-tube,a double elbow con- 2 necting therewith, a cylinder having one headconnecting with the double elbow at the side near the head, the plungerworking in the cylinder, and the outwardly-opening valve for closing theopen end of the cylinder rigidly connected with the float, both beingpivoted to a lug on the cylinder, so that the face of the valve willswing into line with the open end of the cylinder and close the same,sub; stantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a cylinder having a closed top connecting at itsside, at or near its top, with the short arm of a siphon, a pistonworking in the cylinder, an outwardlyopening Valve for closing the openend of "the cylinder, and the float connectin g with valve.

3. The combination of the siphon, an outwardly-opening valve for closingthe short arm thereof, the float connected with the Valve and thecushioning-chamber, and plunger connected with the valve.

4. The combination of a flushing-pipe, the double elbow, the cylinderopen at its bottom and connected at its top with the double elbow, thepiston working in the cylinder, and the outwardly-opening valve forclosing the open end of the cylinder.

5. The combination of a flushing pipe, double-elbow cylinder connectingwith the elbow, the piston working in the cylinder, the flap-valve, thefloat connected with the valve, the cushionin g-chamber, and plungerconnectin g with the valve.

6. The combination of a siphon, a piston working in the short armthereof, the short arm having an internal groove or recess opposite thepiston-head at its downward limit of movement, the outwardly-openingvalve for closing the short arm of the siphon, and the float foroperating the valve.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLARD C. HUGHES. Witnesses:

LON. S. CLARKE, M E. ROBINSON.

